Monday, December 3, 2012

ON A SHELF

Yup, that's how I feel lately.

Shelved.
Like a book that God enjoyed reading, but when He was done with me, He put me on the shelf.
Before I moved, I had a nice little corner of ministry going. A few speaking engagements. A consistent blog voice. An active leadership role in my Bible Study.

I had hopes of God opening the door into the Christian *big-time* at any moment. It seemed imminent, around the corner – just waiting for me.

Then I moved.

And everything came to a screeching halt.

No one's ringing my doorbell to have me come and share my pearls of wisdom with their group. My blog muse – let's call her Verbosia – has left the building. And though I am in a new Bible Study group full of wonderful women, I am still the "new kid on the block."

I feel dismayed about this.

Yes, I know all about the *seasons* that God calls us to walk through – but when did He decide that this was a good time for winter?

I do want you to know – that I do see the irony of ME saying that I don't have MY ministry. I do see the self-interest in that statement.

But there's still a part of me – a part of every believer, I think – that really does want to be used by the Lord for HIS purposes.

So why am I sitting on a couch bemoaning my sitting?

I decided to visit some of my friends.

I texted Joseph, whose brothers had abandoned him, then he was rescued, only to be thrown into jail for a false accusation.

"Hey Jo, Y am I doing nothing here?"

"Know what u mean," he answered. "I had some ?'s myself in that jail cell. ☹"

I emailed Moses, who was treated as the son of Pharaoh, only to kill a man and run away to spend 40 years (count 'em, 40) in the wilderness with a bunch of sheep."Hey Moses, I'm kinda struggling here on my mountain top. I can't stand the feeling that I've been sidelined. Know what I mean?"

"Why of course! Can you imagine what it felt like to be a shepherd for 40 years? Why was I wasting my time with sheep, I often wondered. Of course, God knew the plan He had for me – to shepherd a nation out of slavery into their Promised Land."

"But Moses, I'm no spring chicken here. Time is ticking."

"Hey, I really started making a difference when I was 80. Hang in there!"

I finally decided to call David, a man whom Samuel anointed as the future king of Israel, only to spend a great deal of time running for his life.

BRIIINGG…BRIIINGG.

"Hello?"

"David? This is Sharon."

"Oh hi, Sharon. What's up?"

"I'm just wondering if you ever felt like God had forgotten you. As if He had called you to this big old purpose, only to send you off on a wild goose chase. Did you ever feel shelved?"

There was a pause on the other end…

"David, you still there?"

"Yes," he said quietly. "Actually, I felt like that quite often. I think you can tell by the words I said in my poems. So often I felt lost, neglected, forgotten,…so very far from the God I loved."

"Yeah, I have always found your honesty to be quite comforting."

"Thank you for that. But here's the thing I learned. That even when I cried out to God in despair, even when it felt like He wasn't there and didn't care – He still called me a man after His own heart. I find that incredible, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Somehow in my deep discouragement, I still sought His presence. Are you doing that?"

"As best as I can, I am."

"Then don't look back. I found that it was very difficult to think about my Goliath triumph when I was sitting in a dark cave running away from Saul. Was this the behavior or the position of a king? I thought God was making some pretty big mistakes."

"Yeah, I wonder sometimes too. A lot lately."

"It's OK. He has a plan. Don't give up the Story just because you don't know the ending. He's a good Author – trust Him."

I spent a lot of time thinking about my conversations with these men. Men who had been called for an important spiritual destiny.And yet, they had each spent a lot of time in seemingly wasted inactivity.

But God was working…all the time.I turn the page in my Bible and Joseph is out of prison – but he was there for 2 years. I turn the page in my Bible and Moses returns from the wilderness – but he was there for 40 years. I turn the page in my Bible and David is king of the entire nation of Israel – but he ran for many years before he wore that crown.

I turn the page in my Bible and Jesus begins His ministry. But He spent 30 years waiting for the moment when God would tell Him, "NOW!"I guess I'm in good company here.
On a shelf doesn't mean forgotten. It doesn't mean unimportant. It certainly doesn't mean useless.
Those are enemy lies – propaganda from the parrot constantly squawking on my shoulder – meant to deter me from becoming more like Jesus.
Lord, give me patience for this time in my life. Please relieve the discouragement that I feel right now. Make Your presence more real to me so I don't feel forgotten. Grant me comfort when I am sad. Give me peace when I feel turmoil. Fill me with strength to withstand the onslaught of pity. Let me understand that inside work is just as important to You as outside service.

Maybe more important.

Teach me that all that matters is that I am a woman after Your own heart.And if You wouldn’t mind, please show me a sign of Your favor.God is working his purpose outas year succeeds to year:God is working his purpose out,and the time is drawing near;nearer and nearer draws the time,the time that shall surely be,when the earth shall be filled with the glory of Godas the waters cover the sea.- From a hymn, words written by Arthur Campbell Aigner"Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things." (Ecclesiastes 11:5)"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." (Psalm 139:16)Has God ever *placed you on the sidelines* for a time in your life? What did you do?BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

Sharon, Sharon, I'm feeling a little bit of this myself as I'm currently looking for a new church and it's odd to be in places where no one knows your name. At times I wonder how will ever get to the act of doing ministry again but I try to find rest in knowing I'm right were I need to be at this time in my life. Because truth be told I had begun to become weary in the doing.

Sharon,thanks for the reminder that God has us on a ride all the time! Sometimes we are up high (all your speaking ) and then there are times he wants us quiet and close to him. David had that huge triumph w/Goliath and then, here he is hiding in a cave! I don't like that God has us "uncomfortable" a lot of times, but just know He is right there with you, smiling at you, because HE loves you and knows that HE is working in and through you! HE just did- what a blessing your post is! Love you!

I do remember a time when I felt like I had been put on a shelve for a season. Being a gal who doesn't like empty white space it was a difficult time for me. The scripture that kept coming to mind was "be still and know that I am God" It was a time of growth to be sure...praying that you will find it a time of renewal as well

Actually, when you look to the left, I'm the one beside you on the couch! I seem to be sharing that space with you. I've been here before though, so this I know... HE knows we're there, and in the waiting He is getting us ready for whatever is next. I so relate to your heart Sharon, and it always lifts me up, maybe it's that so many times I feel just what you write.

Hi Sharon,I took a blogging break for a while earlier this year. When I came back, I went to your other blog and saw you had not posted there in a while. So I thought you were no longer blogging. Then tonight I realized you were blogging on this blog. It is good to visit.

Sharon, I think this is one of your best pieces, amazing what God can do with us while we are on the shelf--only if we are open to Him. your creative way of bringing the message of waiting across to us through your conversations with the patriarchs of the Bible put life and reality into their words. I know only to we'll that feeling of having been left behind or forgotten. But those are whispers from the enemy! Keep the right perspective--your eyes are on The Lord. He is preparing you for His Time. So glad to hear from you, and happy that my post encouraged you.Blessings, Janis

Aww Sharon...I've felt this way too. I get you but He doesn't ever forget what He started. I love how you wrote this and your honesty is actually so refreshing. I don't want you to feel this way but I think He has a divine appointment for you and the move was part of it. Hang tight...the best is yet to come

In my mind, I have been "on the shelf" for a number of years now. Like you, I once ministered to others on a personal level. Divorce changed everything 10 years ago. However, I have found that my life still touches others in some way. Maybe it's a rambling blog or just an encouraging word to another in need.

My dearest "shelved" Sharon ... Never! You have too much of an excellence in sharing "God" or anything through writing to be shelved. I love how Debbie wrote and agree with each person who claim this as ONE of YOUR CLASSIC ALL TIME BEST!

See what sitting on a shelf does... those creative juices were just urking to flow and WOW did they ever. I have many shelved books that I return to over and over again as my favorites. You have that same quality! I love how you spoke to these Biblical characters like friends (us)... but with Jesus, the best!

"Teach me that all that matters is that I am a woman after Your own heart." like David we both long for this ... yet in this time of waiting, there is preparation going on, perhaps just to REST in Him is all we really need. He loves toshow up in the weakest and the least, and bring forth His glory! Your writing in this one is well worth a series of you speaking with Biblical characters for the answers we search for from His Word!

Brrring! Brrring!Hello Sharon ... this is Peggy! My how I have missed you! and just as much I have missed your writing!

Come sit on my couch and let's talk!

I'll be waiting! You are such a delight! I am so blessed by your writing! I am reaching for the shelf for the best book ever: HIS STORY and your extra edition of humor and practical, insightful writing is the next one that I will pick up, whether it's a Bible Pick'ems or Sharon Sharing God! You are part of His Story in a big way... on the shelf, in your new place, you are a voice and one of the greatest treasures. You are being used in a special way with someone very dear and close. This is the highest calling, for the time is short and the finish is well worth your ministry for an eternity, not a season! Your voice is also in your action and your heart! You flow from His and He flows through you... of this, I'm sure you know for sure...the BEST ministry is yet to come. Part of the reason for the recent move!

I'm praying and believing for you and with you!Love (((hugs)))Peggy(it's been a while so you'll have to forgive me for the book long comment)

So much to be learned from this post. I love all the illustrations you gave. We don't know what God has in store for us or how He will get us to the place he wants us to be. We need to keep trusting that He knows what He's doing because He certainly does, and in time it will all make sense. I have found that to be so true in my life. Blessings,Charlotte

Sharon your experiences and feeling are felt by so many. By having these feelings you searched out the answers in the bible and found them to share with everyone here. By sharing here you are helping so many in how to deal with the ups and downs they may experience. This is a wonderful blog. Let go and trust, there is a purpose.

"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)

WELCOME

About Me

I'm a middle-aged, married, Christian woman. I have one wonderful husband, two great adult sons, two awesome daughters-in-law, two precious granddaughters, and an adorable granddog (a beloved beagle!) I consider myself a COLEN ("Change-Of-Life Empty-Nester"). This is a time of transition in my life. Things are changing, and so am I. However, I desire nothing more than to serve my Savior. Please join me on my journey as I walk out my faith in the second half of life!

MY PRAYER

FAITHFUL ONE

"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."

Revelation 3:8, NIV

WHY I WRITE

"I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.

I write to discover what I know."

- Flannery O'Connor

**AWARD FREE BLOG**

Though I am truly humbled and honored by your consideration, your comments are awesome enough!! Thank you so much.

"You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain - the place, O LORD, reserved for your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established. The LORD will reign forever and ever!"

(Exodus 15:17-18)

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD...There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths."

MY WORD FOR 2016

Word origin: 1550's, "pleasing to the mind," also "full of gratitude," from obsolete adj. grate "agreeable, thankful," from Latin gratus "pleasing" – derived from the same word origin as the word "grace."

The trick to changing your behavior is to become more thankful.

The practice of gratitude involves a focus on the present moment, on appreciating your life as it is today and what has made it so.

Let us begin an eternal quest to express in new and creative ways our thanks to God.

So I'm breathing in Your grace,

And I'm breathing out Your praise.

Let our prayers be the overflow of a grateful heart to God.

Three steps in prayer:

PRAISE – praise, reverence, worship, adoration, and awe for who God is and what He does

ASK – honest, earnest, and intense requests

THANK YOU – always end with thanksgiving for everything

Pulpit commentary:

In everything give thanks.

In every circumstance – in joy and in sorrow; for everything – for prosperity and for adversity; in every place – in the house of God and on the bed of sickness.

Christians should not only be engaged in constant prayer, but in constant thanksgiving.

For this – this thankful spirit – is the will of God, His desire.

God by the gift of his Son has laid us under the obligation of perpetual thanksgiving. Our whole lives ought to be one continued thank-offering for all the blessings of redemption.

Gill's Exposition:

Thanks are to be given to him for all things…

For all temporal good things;

for our beings, the preservation of them;

for food and raiment, and all the mercies of life;

for the means of grace, the word and ordinances, and the ministers of the Gospel;

and especially for Jesus Christ, for such a…Saviour, and advocate with the Father, as he is; and for life, peace, joy, comfort, righteousness, and salvation in him.

Thanks should be given to God in every circumstance of life; in adversity, as Job did; when not in so comfortable and agreeable a frame of soul as to be wished for…even under the temptations of Satan…since the grace of God is sufficient to bear up under them, and deliver out of them.

[Give thanks] in afflictions of every kind, since they are all for good – temporal, or spiritual, or eternal.

The enemy specializes in making me feel discontent, unsatisfied, miserable, grumpy, self-focused, negative, and fearful.He brings nothing but suffering and pain – but You, O God, specialize in making megrateful...

TEACH ME YOUR WAY, LORD.

MY VERSE FOR 2016

"Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, AMP)

A PRAYER OF GRATEFULNESS

Dear Lord, I want to change my outlook. I want to transform my spirit. I do not want to go through another day without remembering all that You have given me, and thanking You for it. Please give me the power to be thankful in all things, and for all things, for You are with me in all of it. Let me never forget that You work all things together for good, and for that I am eternally grateful.

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Thank you so much!

"THE HUB"

MARTY

"All creatures great and small, The Lord God made them all!"

"You care for people and animals alike, O LORD."

(Psalm 36:6)

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

- Anatole France

JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME...

...yesterday, today, and forever!

A WORD FROM THE WORD

"'I am the LORD; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle...so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the LORD, and there is no other.'"

(Isaiah 45:5-6, NLT)

A "MESSAGE" FROM GOD

"'I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me...They're saying it everywhere: 'God is greater, this GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.'"

(Malachi 1:11)

(All verses taken from "The Message" by Eugene H. Peterson)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

How do you cope with distress in your life?

Grateful Word:DISTRESS

"I tell you...if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

(Luke 19:40, NIV)

ON PRAYER

Sometimes I get all messed up when I think about prayer. Sometimes I think I look at it backwards – thinking it's all about me communicating with God. It is that, for sure. But it's also a time for God to communicate with me. It doesn't have to be big and lofty, nor long and pious. It's just two people who dearly love each other seeking conversation and communion.

FAITH

Seeing great miracles does not necessarily lead to great faith. Rather, great faith comes from a deep-seated conviction that God is great.

GRATITUDE

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude."

- A. A. Milne

EL ROI

The God Who Sees Me

"Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings?"

(Job 39:26)

"I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?"

(C. S. Lewis, "Till We Have Faces")

PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTY

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised."

ASLAN LIVES!

IN HIS EYES

MY OTHER BLOG

(For the complete story about "Bible Pick 'Ems," see my blog entry dated June 29, 2010)

(P.S. Please find references on the "BIBLE PICK 'EMS" Page on this blog!)

NOTE:

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, c. 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation)

PEACE LIKE A RIVER

WHAT IS LOVE?

Love is when you are missing some of your teeth but you're not afraid to smile because you know your friends will still love you even though some of you is missing.

By Emma K. - Age 6

"Out of the mouth of babes..."

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

Anonymous

When you are uncertain, it helps to have someone remind you what is true – someone who knows you well, who sees you, and keeps track of you – not just your body but your soul.

Emily Freeman

HE IS MY ROCK

"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust..." (Psalm 18:2)

HOLD FAST

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on solid bedrock." (Matthew 7:24-25)

WHEN I AM WEAK, HE IS STRONG

PROMISE FOR THE DAY

TRUST IN ME

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE

I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE

GOD PROTECTS THE CHILDLIKE...

"For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."(Matthew 19:14)

MEET THE BIBLE

A ONE-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Reading this year from: "The Amplified Bible" by Zondervan and The Lockman Foundation, c. 1987 (revision)

"Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled." (Romans 15:4, NLT)

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

"The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8, NLT)

HOW GREAT THOU ART

"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship." (Psalm 19:1)

"He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord!...His understanding is beyond comprehension!"

(Psalm 147:4,5)

"Praise the LORD from the heavens! Praise him from the skies!...Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him all you twinkling stars!" (Psalm 148:1,3)

"For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth."

(Psalm 108:4,5)

"Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?" (Psalm 71:19)

"I alone am God, the First and the Last. It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth, my right hand that spread out the heavens above. When I call out the stars, they all appear in order." (Isaiah 48:12)

"God made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses." (Jeremiah 10:12-13)

ALL FOR HIS GLORY

I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God.

If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.

But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace.

I will commit myself to instruction and listen carefully

to words of knowledge.

I will leave it all in the Lord's hand.

I will trust Him.

For there truly is a reward for those who live for God.

ALL GLORY TO GOD FOREVER AND EVER!! AMEN!

I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause,

I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause -

I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,

I’d rather be true to His holy name -

I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead,

I’d rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

THE GLORIFIED ONE

SERVING THE MOST HIGH

Corrie ten Boom once said she was simply, "the skin on the hands of God."

"Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39)

"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" (Matthew 25:40)

"'And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.'"

(Matthew 10:42)

"...my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."